GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol. 2 Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Back in 2014, with months leading up to James Gunn’s release of Guardians of the Galaxy, it was safe to say no one knew what to expect. Some movie goers were excited, while others thought it would be Marvel Studios’ first flop. Fortunately for all fans of entertainment, it was a solid film that blew every preexisting expectation away. Now we’re here for volume 2, and the expectations are on the rise. I thought the first film was a ton of fun, even with the nitpicks I have thr

UNFORGETTABLE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

From the release of the first trailer, Unforgettable appeared to be a forgettable soap opera drama that we’ve all seen before. If you were one to roll your eyes during its marketing, know that you’re weren’t alone. These sentiments were most likely shared across the board, for it seems this story has been told an exaggerated number of times, though here there is the bonus of two prominent stars. Surprisingly, with her directorial debut, Denise Di Novi was able to craft an ent

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Paying respect when and where it’s due, The Fast and the Furious franchise deserves all the praise it can take on. When you think they’ve ran out of fresh ideas, you’re humbled as they continuously surprise you, providing the next global threat of destruction. Directed by one of the greatest men behind the camera in the past twenty plus years, F. Gary Gray (Friday, The Negotiator, Straight Outta Compton) not only crafts a superb film, but easily one of the best features in th

GOING IN STYLE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

For most of us, there will come a time when kicking the bucket is right around the corner. A time of sitting back laughing and reminiscing on all the great times from the past. Hopefully you’ll have a good friend or two to share those memories with, as these three best friends do to the fullest. From the first few moments of the film, it’s clear Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Alan Arkin are a triple threat of comedic brilliance, as they bounce off each other like they were born

GIFTED Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Being completely honest, Marc Webb (500 Hundred Days of Summer) is an exceptional director, but his last film, The Amazing Spiderman 2, was one of the worst experiences I ever had in a movie theater. There aren’t enough words to describe the amount of disgust I have for that piece of crap. Trying to forgive him of that sin, his previous work shows how talented he is, and so does his new film Gifted. The casting of the popular and well-known actor from the role of Captain America, Chris E

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

The Smurfs have been around for decades as cute little cuddly creatures with as many personalities as ten decks of cards. There’s just something about them that you can’t get enough of as they dance and sing, “La La La La La La,” repeatedly until the day is gone. Though we may get sick of them soon enough with an attempt as poor as this one. While some of the essence remained from The Smurfs, this adaptation caters only to children, unlike films from the past. Initially

GHOST IN THE SHELL Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Ghost in the Shell is arguably one of the most popular Japanese animations of all time. Ever since its original release back in 1995, fans from all around the world have raved about its excellence. For such a property, it was only inevitable that a studio would take hold of the rights to adapt it into a large blockbuster feature, and who could blame them with the technology that’s at studios disposal nowadays. If anything, this film deserves praise for its creativity as it jumps forward

LIFE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

For me there isn’t much hope when I see a movie advertised about an alien life form that grows into a menace, that may potentially harm earth. In this space adventure it seems all too familiar. My thoughts are it’s only worth it if the characters don’t make rash decisions that lead to disaster. Though with the writers being Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool, Zombieland), my attitude remained on the optimistic side going in. So right before its release with a cast of a fe

POWER RANGERS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Power Rangers in the early 90’s was the show kids all around raved about, rushing to their television set right after school. It was a fun, action-packed filled extravaganza that was impossible to ignore. It was cheesy to say the least, but all was forgiven; with it at times being self-aware and fully embracing itself. There’s been countless reimagining of the original show, but nothing comes close to the original. Though in all old properties enough time passes by to warrant a reb

GET OUT Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

My goodness! This is like a Black man’s worst nightmare, to be abducted by white people only to be forced into slavery. Jordan Peele (Key & Peele, Keanu) made a bold move when he decided to write and direct this horror laced mysterious thriller. Not only does it fit that mold, but the inclusion of comedy was a hard task that he pulled off. Initially shocked that he would take on such material given his background delving in comedy, Peele delivered a thought provoking film that not on

LOGAN Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

For the longest time I’d given up on 20th Century Fox’s adaptation of the X-Men series (2000-2006). The first two films from Bryan Singer were fine, but the third was an abysmal mess. More films came around, like X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), which followed suit. Then Matthew Vaughn came shaking things up, rebooting the franchise with X-Men: First Class (2011). That film is beyond amazing, but Fox destroyed its potential by linking it to past films through X-Men: Days of Future

A CURE FOR WELLNESS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

From early looks, A Cure for Wellness appeared to be a mysterious and challenging film where you’re puzzled until the final frame. It holds your interest until the very end, but if it pays off or not is another question. Taking a closer look at director Gore Verbinski’s filmography, I was taken aback that he took on this type of material. Having started the Pirates of the Caribbean films, this just shows how far his range is in regards to interest and skill. The actor cast for the

FIST FIGHT Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

When the first trailer for Fist Fight was released, I asked myself, “Why Ice Cube, why?” I’m a big fan of his, and with me having no faith in how this film would turn out it piqued my interest more and more when it came closer to release. It was hard to wrap my head around two grown men fighting in a high school parking lot around students and not going to jail. The cast fit the roles with talents like Tracy Morgan (Coach Crawford), and Charlie Day (Andy Campbell). So I thoug

THE GREAT WALL Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

To have two cultures come together in production on the big screen makes sense in many ways. Most notably if both countries contribute the largest box office numbers worldwide, like the United States and China. So, having a Hollywood juggernaut of sorts as the main lead teaming up with one of the best directors in China is a smart business move I’d get behind. Though contributing to the reign of the “white savior” stereotype has long had its time, and needs to die. The public

50 SHADES DARKER Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

After the reception of 50 Shades of Grey, it was smart for director Sam Taylor-Johnson to get away from this franchise as far as possible. Whether it was an amicable decision or not, she’s better off moving along to other things. So, I have to wonder what type of incentives would have to be on the table for any other sane individual to take rein of this monstrosity. Multiple dump trucks of money, magical pills that make you grow stronger, or a free preview of heaven with VIP access

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

You have to be pretty bad ass to shake the boots of every man, woman, and child you encounter in the streets. Never has a man been so respected and feared in the underground world of assassins. Known as “The Boogeyman,” Keanu Reeves is back as John Wick, and he’s more fierce than ever. There have been countless films over the years that delved into the world of organized crime and mayhem, but this John Wick series is rewriting all the textbooks on how straight-up hardcore rev

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Back in 2014 Warner Bros. released their first feature in the world of Lego blocks, and it was more than anyone could ask for. Tailored more for adults, it also catered to children; which was a brilliant fusion for both age groups to come together and laugh hysterically. Now they’re back with Batman, who’s arguably one of the best and most popular super heroes of all time, but in Lego form. He’s the same Dark Knight that we’ve known before, but with more comedy, sarcasm

THE SPACE BETWEEN US Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Who knows if we’ll ever make it to Mars. I’m not even sure I’d want to go if the opportunity presented itself. Though being alive if we ever did would be so euphoric. That term is thrown around throughout the film to describe the feeling of new beginnings. It fits the filled with fun high spirited moments, whether the main character Gardner (Asa Butterfield) is making new discoveries or experiencing the tingly feeling down below when he meets his crush Tulsa (Britt Robinson)

RINGS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

When most people attend the movies they don’t want to see the same old rehashed concept that came before. Fresh ideas with new twists and turns will always motivate the soul to hop off the couch and run to the theater. So back in 2002, when The Ring hit theaters, it had all you could ask for in a horror film. A story you’re dying to know, a plot you can’t wait to finish, and an antagonist you can’t predict. Audiences were running through streets in anticipation to tell

RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

One thing that I can say about the Resident Evil franchise is it gets the job done and never stops. There aren’t too many properties that make it to their 6th installment without losing their popularity. Based off the video game from the 90’s, fans from around the world stay loyal to this world of monsters and mayhem, regardless of how ridiculous the plot gets. That what makes Resident Evil special. It goes for the ridiculous and is beyond proud to do so. That ridiculousness still

GOLD Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

How nice it would be to wake up in the middle of your dream job every day? It’d be amazing of course by all measures. I know I’ve had a job or two that I’ve despised, and others that had their pros. But to begin each day digging for gold can be that adventure you’ve only imagined. That was the case for prospector Kenny Wells (Matthew McConaughey), a man who’s as optimistic as can be. While his journey is inspiring, the story of how it unfolds isn’t as much.

SPLIT Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

As writer, producer, and director, M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense) has been known as both a cinematic genius and the worst creator of films in the modern day. Not too many would argue that his recent work has been on par, but his last film The Visit showed he still has some creativity left up his sleeve. It still had problems, not delivering what was promised regarding scares, but managed to give audiences a good reason to not abandon him completely. It was marketed as a horror, thriller

xXx: THE RETURN OF XANDER CAGE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

It’s known that each year there’s a ton of trash talk when it comes to movies released in January. Who’s to blame, with the material normally not reaching standards that are considered great? On average, they consist of cheaply made generic cash grabs that will make a profit solely on default. Though like all walks of life, it’s all about the money. So, when a film is honest about it, all can be forgiven for the sake of popcorn entertainment. That’s what makes xXx

SLEEPLESS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

It’s been a few years since Jamie Foxx has been on the big screen with all his talent. His last outing was Annie (2014), which had a mixed response. It’s great to see him back, even with this being the sour season for movies, but it’s hard to imagine an Academy Award winning actor like Foxx not being worthy. Though in this case that depends on what you’re looking for. So, with what started out as a plot as simple as a 2D Dr. Seuss book, Sleepless slowly grew enough legs

THE BYE BYE MAN Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

There will always be a mystery with horror films as to where the motivation comes from when writing the material. For a while now horror hasn’t been at the peak of greatness, though every once in a while, a surprise hit pops into theaters reinvigorating the genre. 2016 was a great year for horror films with nearly every one released being at least slightly entertaining. So with The Bye Bye Man being released in January (the toilet bowl season for movies) there was a chance the greatness

LIVE BY NIGHT Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Set in the prohibition era in the United States of America, Ben Affleck decided to add another well put together crime drama to his filmography. His talent behind and in front of the camera continues to rise, and it doesn’t appear it will slow down anytime soon. Live By Night deserves so much praise for the mixed bag of goodies it delivers. Overall, being a crime/drama, there’s also great action on a small scale that has great impact with the context surrounding it, in addition to

ASSASSIN'S CREED Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

It’s been nearly a decade and a half since I’ve considered myself a serious gamer. My interest leaned more towards the fighting platforms with martial arts, but Assassin’s Creed wasn’t around during those days. It’s not that video games no longer pique my interest, but as we all get older every form of entertainment can’t be at our disposal. So while curiosity has always been at a high, I’ve missed the glory Assassin’s Creed has given

HIDDEN FIGURES Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

When the first poster for this film was released, it encapsulated everything I’d want in a drama. The title told me everything I wanted to know, while still having a mysterious undertone to it. The imagery spoke louder than ever and possessed three great talented actresses posing marvelously for the camera. Being based on the book of the same name by Allison Schroeder, Hidden Figures is a true story celebrating one of the United States’ greatest triumphs. It focuses on Katherine Jo

WHY HIM? Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

You know James Franco (127 Hours) deserves a lot of credit. He really is a chameleon on screen. Not too many actors are talented enough to be nominated for an Academy Award and still have the ability to transition over to roles like pot dealers who make butthole jokes. Yet here he is again, being loud, obnoxious, and hilariously outspoken. The title of the film is brief, letting you know exactly what you’re in for. What’s intriguing is this is an R-rated film that’s raunchy,

FENCES Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Based on the 1983 play by August Wilson, Fences focuses on the struggles of an African-American family during the 1950’s in the United States. In 1987, it won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play. So anticipation has been on a high. Yet the question still remains if this acclaimed play could transition over to a film. It has all the right ingredients with an award-winning screenplay, and the cast is strong as ever with Viola Davis (The Help) and Denzel Washi

PASSENGERS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

What an experience it would be to soar through outer space, soaking in all the mysteries this universe has to offer. As most would, if safety was a guarantee, I’d jump at the opportunity. The main problem is safety isn’t guaranteed. So a hard decision must be made. The marketing for Passengers teased the real reason behind the star-filled voyage, and it’s disappointing that the studio had to lie to sell tickets. Studios do this often, cutting a trailer months before a film&rs

SING Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

The power of song has no end. It can either rally the troops for an expected victory, or spark a mood and help the blood flow through your body. Dipping its hand into the jar of greatest hits from the past few decades, Illumination took a little of both notions to create a fun loving film with cute animals to sell the show. They sold it well for the most part too. Whether you’re familiar with the song choices or not, they’re fun and will have you singing along with them. The decisi

ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Once upon a time it seemed like the lush universe of Star Wars had come to an end. Yet in a galaxy far, far away, there’s an endless amount of story that’s too important not to explore. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story jumps right in, enhancing the classic story that started it all. Not only is this another great addition to the film franchise, it plants itself within it as if it was there from the beginning. True craftsmanship from a collective team of old school filmma

COLLATERAL BEAUTY Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Losing a child is possibly one of the worst things imaginable. The thought of it is shaking. So, who better to act out these emotions on screen than the talented Will Smith? Not too many actors can compete with his range, even though this film has a diverse cast. If you were thinking Oscar worthy, you wouldn’t be far from reality. The question is for what category? It’s a safe bet to put your money on Smith’s performance, but other than that you may be risking it. While h

LA LA LAND Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Director Damien Chazelle loves him some jazz music, and if he keeps pushing it I’ll become more of a fan myself. He knows how to give life to the music before, during, and after a set is played on top of the electricity the art form already possesses. It’s hard to forget Whiplash from just two years ago. The ending from that film was arguably one of the best endings in film history. While La La Land doesn’t have the same great conclusion, it still has great key moments that a

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

What a way to try and cash in on the holiday movie season. That’s all Paramount Pictures tried to do with their version of an Office Christmas Party. Someone close to me had doubts from the trailers suggesting the cast would be richer than the overall impact of the film. They were right to an extent, because the cast didn’t do much either. What type of office worker are you, if any? Are you the kind that lurks around in mystery, obsessed in curiosity about your co-workers’ li

MAN DOWN Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

It doesn’t get any more serious than those who are suffering from PTSD. It’s a condition that flares up far too much for men and women that have fought for their country. For those that have gone through this, the level of appreciation for their sacrifice is infinite. That doesn’t mean a film can use it as a trump card to improve the quality of the film. Man Down had a clever title that ties in so well with the main character Gabriel Drummer (Shia LaBeouf), and it should&rsqu

MISS SLOANE Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

If you learn anything from Miss Sloane, it would be to know your opponent at all times, trying to predict as many moves as possible. The preparation of her daily duties was that of a brand-new clock that’s constantly working and never breaks. The film asks huge moral questions that will bring up interesting conversations regarding how much is too much. If not already known, it reveals the sinister-like behavior some possess just for the sake of winning. It’s sickening, yet at the s

BAD SANTA 2 Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

On the surface, anal sex and Christmas aren’t two things that would typically coincide with one another. Somehow they were the perfect match back in 2003 when Bad Santa hit theaters. That film was a combination of the most random things that should’ve caused a disaster, but worked through movie magic. The protagonist was a lazy drunk, who ripped off his neighbors and lied to children. He was verbally abusive and just all out irresponsible, which at the same time was shockingly hila

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

The Harry Potter series had its time to shine several years ago, making a big splash across the world among all age groups. It was a luxurious world of magic and mystery conjured up by the magnificent mind of J.K. Rowling. A whole new world was created, and in some fashion world building has no end. The amount of potential to it is limitless, and that’s the case here with Fantastic Beasts taking place seventy years before the main story. I’ve seen all of the Harry Potter films, and

BLEED FOR THIS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

There’s a huge difference between giving up and walking away. These lines are often blurred, and if not distinguished it can have a great effect on someone trying to reach great heights. Apparently, that was a choice Vinny Pazienza (Miles Teller) had to make. It was a hard decision, but he didn’t appear to care about the outcome. It wasn’t clear if he wanted all the fame and glory, or had nothing to lose and was trying to end his life in disguise. Both sides of the argument h

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

If the title of the film suggests that once the main star turns eighteen she’ll grow up and stop whining, then it’s the best title ever in film history. That may be a stretch, but it still fits on many levels. Teenage years are full of adventures of growing up. Some are good and some are bad. When telling a story, a balance needs to be maintained to stomach the runtime, or said story may be only tailored to a select few. It’s not clear who this was aimed for, and whether that

ALMOST CHRISTMAS Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Even though the cast has a strong track record from previous films, there was something about the trailers that wasn’t appealing. It just seemed like another generic throw away project that would contain cheap jokes, with no heart, to make a little money. Sometimes surprises can come in all shapes and sizes, and this time it came wrapped up in Almost Christmas gift paper. With such a large cast, everyone had their time to shine; whether it dealt with comedy, drama, or a little bit of bot

ARRIVAL Review

Posted 2 years ago By Brandon Keith Avery

Of course, you’ve seen alien films before. They’ve been hitting theaters left and right for a great number of years now. No one wants more of the same, and that’s why Arrival seems so intriguing. There was no violence or destruction in the marketing. It’s sold for figuring out the mystery. The why, where, and what are the lingering questions. The moral compass in the film is so huge it’s breathtakingly immeasurable on the positive side. That doesn’t mean thi